Coco Gauff rescues Team USA with dominant double victory in Perth

The humidity inside Perth’s RAC Arena usually feels like a precursor to the Australian Open’s grueling heat, but tonight, the atmosphere was thick with a different kind of tension.

As I watched the defending champions stumble early, it felt as though the United States’ grip on the United Cup was loosening before the first weekend of the 2026 season had even concluded.

The evening began with a genuine shock to the system.

Sebastian Baez, a player who has often found himself overshadowed by the heavy hitters on the ATP circuit, produced a performance of pure, unadulterated grit. Facing World No. 6 Taylor Fritz — a man he had failed to beat in five previous attempts — Baez didn’t just compete; he survived.

Fritz looked visibly rusty, his timing slightly off-kilter as he surrendered a lead to fall 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

When Baez sealed the upset with a clinical volley into an open court, the Argentinian contingent in the stands erupted. It was Baez’s second career Top 10 win, and it left the Americans staring down a 0-1 deficit in a Group A tie they were heavily favored to win.

Then came Coco Gauff.

There is a specific kind of aura Gauff carries now. A mix of veteran composure and youthful explosiveness. Stepping onto the court against Solana Sierra, who was making her debut against Top 10 opposition, Gauff looked like a woman who had no intention of letting the tie go to a deciding rubber without a fight.

The match was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Gauff moved with a fluidity that suggested she had never left the match court during the off-season. She raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening set, her serve acting as a primary weapon while Sierra struggled to find any rhythm.

While the Perth crowd rallied behind the underdog when Sierra finally held serve in the sixth game, the momentum was a runaway train. Gauff wrapped up the first set in 30 minutes, conceding only seven points on her serve.

The second set was a carbon copy of the first.

The “double breadstick” 6-1, 6-1 scoreline was perhaps a harsh introduction to the elite level for Sierra, but for Gauff, it was a necessary statement. “I feel like I can play even better, too, which is even more exciting,” she told us on-court afterward, her eyes already scanning the horizon for the challenges ahead.

With the tie leveled at 1-1, the pressure shifted to the mixed doubles. Gauff returned to the court, this time flanked by Christian Harrison. It was a poignant moment for Harrison, who was representing his country for the first time.

The chemistry was instantaneous. While Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi tried to disrupt the American rhythm, Gauff and Harrison were simply too sharp at the net and too dominant from the baseline.

They dictated the pace for the better part of 63 minutes. Harrison’s enthusiasm was infectious, and Gauff’s experience in high-pressure doubles scenarios provided the anchor. Their 6-4, 6-1 victory helped secure the tie and kept the U.S. undefeated in Group A.

The United States moves on to face Spain on January 5, where Gauff is slated to meet Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.